Gray upbeat ahead of United clash

Leeds caretaker-boss Eddie Gray believes his players have finally found the courage and belief to play – now roll on Manchester United!

As the saying goes, one swallow does not make a summer, and while a 4-1 home win over Wolves may have ended an appalling run of seven successive defeats - six in the Premiership – it has suggested Leeds can still avoid relegation.

For the first time in a month, Leeds are off the bottom of the table, with Wolves replacing them.

Unfortunately, next up for Leeds in 10 days’ time is United at Old Trafford, where the Whites have not won for 23 years.

After United, Leeds take on Liverpool, and Gray said: “In the dressing room they had the belief they were going to win the game (against Wolves).

“I’ve spoken before about having the courage to play, and that comes from within themselves. You hope the message has got across and we will find out in the coming months.

“Although United is a tough game, you have to have the belief you can go and win at places like that.

“It may not happen, but I’m sure the boys think they can go there and give a good account of themselves.

“But this is only a starting point for us. It’s only one match and three points. We’ve a long way to go.

“We’re still in big trouble, although if they keep performing like that, then I still think we can get out of trouble.”

Leeds appeared up for the fight from the first whistle and were rewarded when Alan Smith tapped home his first goal since November 1 – and his sixth of the season – from close range in the 14th minute.

But against the run of play, Vio Ganea hauled Wolves level seven minutes later and for a spell following that equaliser, the visitors suggested their away-day jinx would end.

However, once captain Dominic Matteo had restored Leeds’ lead just before the break, Leeds were rarely troubled and eventually ran out comfortable winners courtesy of second-half goals from James Milner and Mark Viduka.

The defeat could have been far worse for Wolves as a number of other chances were missed during what was Leeds’ best half of football for a considerable period of time.

Boss Dave Jones was almost at a loss to explain his side’s inept showing in the second period as he said: “We did not do ourselves justice.

“We were our own worst enemy because we gave the ball away cheaply and we didn’t make the runs and passes we have been doing.

“In the second half we looked a completely different team to one in the first and that’s what’s frustrating. We just didn’t turn up.”

Jones was particularly unhappy at his players for blowing the chance to open up a gap on Leeds, which Gray conceded would have been difficult to bridge if his side had lost.

“A few weeks ago when we played Leeds we didn’t let them get adrift from us, and that’s what they’ve done now,” reflected Jones.

“It’s frustrating because this was an opportunity for us to open up that gap and we didn’t take it, just as Leeds didn’t, but that’s going to happen and it’s still wide open.

“There’s still a lot of football to be played and plenty of points up for grabs. We just have to keep our nerve and keep battling away, although we can’t afford to put in performances like this.”